Cottage owned by two of the Pendle Hill 'witches' on sale
It's a foreboding hill that looms over Lancashire’s former mill towns. But in the 17th Century, Pendle Hill was famous as the home of the Pendle Witches, ten of whom were hanged for dabbling in the dark arts.
Now a house at the foot of the hill where two of the witches lived is on the market for £675,000.Â
West Close Farm, on the edge of the village of Higham, near Burnley, was the home of Anne Whittle and her daughter Anne Redferne, who were both executed in 1612 after being found guilty at Lancaster Castle of witchcraft.
West Close Farm, on the edge of the village of Higham, near Burnley, was the home of 'witches' Anne Whittle and her daughter Anne Redferne
At the time, causing harm through the use of magic was punishable by death.
James I had succeeded to the throne nine years earlier and one of his crusades was to outlaw witchcraft. But being a healer or practising magic were lucrative professions for many.
Two rival matriarchs were at the centre of the Pendle Witch saga: Elizabeth Southern, known as Old Demdike, and Anne Whittle, nicknamed Old Chattox.
Both were investigated for witchcraft â€" a case sparked when one of Old Demdike’s granddaughters, Alizon, put a curse on a hawker, John Law, for refusing to give her some pins. Mr Law collapsed and was temporarily paralysed, unable to speak.
He later reported this incident, and subsequently all manner of claims and counter-claims were made, the most serious of which was Alizon’s accusation that Old Chattox had murdered four men by witchcraft and had killed Alizon’s father.Â
Another woman alleged that her brother had died after a disagreement with Redferne.Â
A once-hidden stone staircase, which was found boarded up in the kitchen by the previous owners, adds to the sense of antiquity
Much of the evidence was based on hearsay and conjecture â€" none of which would be admissible in a modern court.Â
However, the two Annes were among ten found guilty and sentenced to death.
West Close Farm is now owned by Wendy Handley, 52, who learned of its link with the Pendle Witches when she moved in 13 years ago.Â
‘A friend of my father’s, a local policeman and a keen amateur historian, told us that witchcraft was rife around here and revealed that the house was at the centre of the saga,’ she says.
Wendy and her late husband Spike spent £60,000 improving the cottage over the years and, like all good renovations, it is almost impossible to see the join.
You can still imagine Old Chattox and her daughter making potions in the ancient-looking farmhouse kitchen.Â
A once-hidden stone staircase, which was found boarded up in the kitchen by the previous owners, adds to the sense of antiquity.
There is a comfortable sitting room with s turdy oak floors, and this leads through to a second reception room and a conservatory, which overlooks open countryside.Â
Upstairs there is a family bathroom and four bedrooms â€" the master bedroom has an en suite shower.
Old Chattox and her daughter, Anne, shown in an illustration about their notorious case
The house comes with three acres, a Jacuzzi, stables and outbuildings, where Wendy used to keep horses before Spike became ill.
There is also a little stream running across the land.
The story of the witches still brings a number of visitors to Pendle Hill every Halloween, and West Close Farm featured in a film about the case several years ago.
Wendy plans to downsize and move to Spain, but says: ‘I want to read and find out more about the history of the house before I hand over the keys and put it behind me.’
purplebricks.co.ukÂ
The story of the witches still brings a number of visitors to Pendle Hill every Halloween, and West Close Farm featured in a film about the case several years ago
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